Sandeel fishing - closure proposals: strategic environmental assessment - post adoption statement

3. Integration of environmental considerations

This section explains how key environmental considerations were identified and how these were taken into account in the decision to close fishing for sandeel in all Scottish waters.

The proposals to close fishing for sandeel in all Scottish waters were made with the purpose of delivering wider environmental benefits to species including sandeel, seabirds, predatory fish, and marine mammals. Environmental considerations were therefore integral to the development of this plan.

During the development of proposals to close fishing for sandeel in all Scottish waters, the Scottish Government drew on responses provided to the Call for Evidence on the future management of Sandeel and Norway pout^[7]. In addition, all available scientific evidence on the potential effects of sandeel fisheries management on the marine environment was reviewed in the Review of Scientific Evidence^[8] which accompanied the consultation. This included information on the drivers of sandeel distribution and abundance, the importance of sandeel to other fish species, seabirds and marine mammals, and the potential effects of sandeel fisheries management measures upon these species.

The Scottish Government also considered the progress the proposals could make towards meeting Scotland's statutory environmental targets. This included commitments under the UK Marine Strategy to support progress towards achieving Good Environmental Status for descriptors for biodiversity and commercial fish^[9], and Scotland's commitments under the Joint Fisheries Statement and the Fisheries Act 2020 to deliver sustainable management of fisheries that takes account of the protection of biodiversity and healthy functioning marine ecosystems^[10]. The proposals also support the aims of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in which sandeel are a protected feature^[11].

The preparation of the Screening and Scoping Report and environmental baseline for the SEA ensured that environmental considerations were taken into account in the proposals to close fishing for sandeel in Scottish waters. Subsequent consultation with the SEA Consultation Authorities assisted in confirming key environmental topics for further consideration in the assessment stage. Views on the Environmental Report were sought during the consultation and were used to inform the decision to close fishing for sandeel in all Scottish waters.